Family Friendly Wyoming Combo Hunt for Mule Deer and Pronghorn

"A hundred miles north of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Fort Fetterman was constructed in 1867 to guard the Bozeman Trail. The Fort was considered a hardship post, but it must have been a great place to hunt!

"Scott Denny of Table Mountain Outfitters has hunted north of Fort Fetterman for seven years. Three years ago, he and Angie, his wife, partner and fellow guide, picked up a lease that tied their smaller holdings together. Now they control 142,000 acres where they offer a spot-and-stalk grasslands hunt with an opportunity to look at 40 or more mule deer bucks a day.

"At first glance, the prairie here seems bleak and desolate. But through binoculars, the white spots on the hills become antelope and the brown branches in the sage are mule deer antlers. This isn't the place to take a huge mule deer,' says Denny. Those bucks are here, but we only get one every two or three years. However, if you want to see a lot of bucks, we can show them to you.' According to Denny, trophy quality on the ranch is improving. A hunter can expect to see dozens of spikes, fork-horns, 2x2s and 2x3s. It is common to see 4x3s and several small 4x4s.

"Hunters arrive the evening before their hunt and are greeted by the guides or the cook or one of the children. There could be half a dozen kids in camp at any one time. The bunkhouse is spacious, with a kitchen, a large living room and bedrooms with bunkbeds. Connected to the bunkhouse is the main house where meals are served in a common dining room.

"The hunting day starts with a family-style breakfast. A lunch is packed in a cooler. After dark, the hunters gather in the dining room for steaks, ribs or fettuccine alfredo.